ELLE Accessories sat down with sustainable jewelry designer Melissa Joy Manning to discuss the opening of her first store and what it means to be green.

Please tell us about how your store came about. How long in was in the works? The idea of a store slowly came about over a period of a few years. About three years ago, I found myself thinking about the artistic and creative opportunities opening a store would provide. Since then, I often found myself thinking about where my store would be, what I would want it to look like, how it should represent the brand, what I would want the customers experience to be, etc. Next to one of my forever favorite stores, The East Bay Vivarium, we discovered a great place wherein we could create a true atelier with shared use for both production and retail. We opened 3 months later. It's kind of the way everything happens with me...an idea slowly forms, an opportunity arises and then a vision takes shape very quickly.

Eco-Chic

Eco-Chic

What was the concept behind the store?

I really wanted the store to capture who I am as a designer. It was really important to me to create a space wherein people can enter a dialogue about my work and how I am influenced. Every thing we have in the store has played some part in my creative process. From a stone specimen, to a vintage table to a sculpture...I wanted to create an experience for our customers; one that would engage them and make them think about the notions of what is precious and valuable.